LiC:10/5/15 James Lancelot (organ)

[Don Petter]

I also thought that the observation before the second work, that 'If you had just invented an instrument, it wouldn't be very long before Hindemith wrote a Sonata for it', while mildly amusing and containing a grain of truth, was a strange introduction to his organ sonata.

It was as if saying that Hindemith came round the corner one day and said 'Oh! What's that over there? Not a Heckelphone. Apparently it's an Organ. Interesting, I could perhaps compose something for that.'.

[ardcarp]

I think it's notoriously difficult recording organs in some venues. The sound was sort of muffled; as if the bright corners had been rounded off. I know Arthur Harrison diapasons were renowned for their smooth fatness (not to mention the HP reeds) but having heard Durham in the flesh, I was surprised at the blandness last night. The dynamic range is (so I am told) often a problem, because our ears can cope with it better than electronics. One wonders if some fancy filtering programme was in operation? But as has been pointed out, we ought not to moan too much. Great that it happened.

[ardcarp]

Well, here's what I wrote to Live in Concert

May I suggest that the BBC's Pavlovian response to anything to do with
an artist playing the organ (e.g. James Lancelot this evening) is to say
that both the *instrument* and sometimes also the *player* ARE BEING PUT
THROUGH THEIR PACES.

This is just ridiculous. Would you say it about Angela Hewitt on a
Steinway or Tamsin Little on a Strad ?

It suggests (a) that pipe organs are hopeless Heath Robinson
contraptions of chewing gum, rubber bands and string that might break down at any
minute, and (b) thet organists are mere technicians without an iota of
artistry.


...and here's the predicatbly defensive (not to mention rude and patronising) reply, deliberately mis-construing my view of organs:


Of course, you may suggest anything you like about the programme description; naturally, I regret you found it ridiculous. I would suggest otherwise.

It’s unarguable that organs around the country (and around the world) have more variation in their technical specification, and thus the sounds each is able to produce, than pianos and violins. And the opening paragraph of the programme description:

‘Durham Cathedral's splendid organ is widely acknowledged to be one of the country's finest. Its statistics are impressive: four manuals (controlling five manual divisions) plus pedals; 98 speaking stops and 23 couplers and accessories; and no fewer than 5,746 pipes’ doesn’t ‘suggest a hopeless Heath Robinson contraption of chewing gum, runner [sic] bands and string that might break down at any minute’. Does it?



The phrase ‘putting through their paces’ seems an appropriate one to indicate the technical and musical challenges any musician on any instrument might be said to face in a demanding programme.



I have asked James Lancelot if he was offended by the programme description in general and the phrase ‘putting them through their paces’ in particular and I will let you know his response.


David Papp

(Producer, Radio 3)



followed by:



I can confirm that James Lancelot is very happy with the what he calls ‘the perfectly sensible description’ and was surprised (‘Goodness me!’ as he put it) at your interpretation. I hope that’s a satisfactory conclusion to this correspondence and that you will find much to enjoy on Radio 3.

[ocarina]

It's not the most irritating colloquialism about and if James Lancelot wasn't offended, why get offended on his behalf?

Focusing on the music, I thought it a great recital and a characteristically well chosen programme. Wonderful how Bach (in the right hands) transcends the instrument, and how a great instrument can inspire a tremendously musical (if not "authentic") account.

I agree the recorded sound was not the best but it sounded like Durham to me - bravo!

[ardcarp]

Ocarina, I hope you are not confusing mediums and messages or whatever. I thought JL's recital was great and take my hat off to him and to the BBC for programming it. However, it does annoy a lot of us...probably especially those of us who are organists ourselves....that the expression in question is ALWAYS trotted out. In fact, 'trotted' is quite appropriate. Whether the metaphor is horses-and-carts or dressage, I'm not quite sure.

I know some pianists are similarly annoyed by being referred to as 'at' the piano. Another equine reference? Mare to the stud, perhaps?

[ocarina]

Hello ardcarp, I don't think I'm confused, but I might be!
I thought you'd written to LiC saying you think the description suggests that organists are mere technicians etc, and LiC reported that the organist on this occasion thought the description was perfectly sensible. I'm also an organist and I can't get too excited about said phrase. Incidentally, I studied with James Lancelot for a number of years at Durham so I am biased but I think his playing is superb. The organ sounds particularly fab on his recent DVD with Priory, and a fascinating earlier DVD on the Elgar Sonata.

[Colonel Danby]

I certainly listened in to the recital, especially for the Leighton and Whitlock pieces. I was very fortunate to read History at Durham University eons ago, so after lectures I scurried up to the Cathedral to catch Evensong almost every day, before high tea or formal thereafter in Castle: those were the days! Is James Lancelot still in charge, or is he merely making a return visit?: he did make the choir a very fine bunch of people while I was there.

[mangerton]

I raised this colloquialism in this thread; I'd rather call it a cliché. Whatever it is, I find it annoying and rather demeaning. The BBC's response to ardcarp's complaint is disappointing, but probably no different from what one would expect. I complained via the BBC's online procedure. They take rather longer to respond, and I have not yet heard from them.

I am not an organist, but I have a great respect for those who are, and a great liking for the instrument and its music.

Miss m studied at Durham, graduating in Theology in 2007. She thoroughly enjoyed her time there and took part in a number of musical events, including singing under James Lancelot in the University Choir. I attended several performances and services when she was there, including a recital by Gillian Weir in the Cathedral.

James Lancelot is still in charge at Durham.

[Finzi4ever]

I too am fed up with the "through its paces" cliché, but I was just as bothered by Christopher Cook's reference to 'Eric' (sic) Whitlock, being far too close for my listening, I mean liking to Eric Whitacre. Perhaps those who like the latter's music are those who use the cliché...

[mangerton]

Yesterday afternoon I received a reply to my complaint (see above). Here it is, verbatim:

Thank you for contacting us about ‘Radio 3 Live in Concert - James Lancelot - organ of Durham Cathedral’ broadcast on 10 May 2015.


I understand you feel the following to be patronising “"James Lancelot, 30 years the Master of the Choristers and Organist at Durham Cathedral, knows the instrument better than most. He plays a thrilling programme that puts both him and the organ through their paces..................."


The programme synopsis reads “James Lancelot, 30 years the Master of the Choristers and Organist at Durham Cathedral, knows the instrument better than most. He plays a thrilling programme that puts both him and the organ through their paces, beginning and ending with two peaks of the repertoire from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.”


I assure you that the term “put through its’ paces” is not intended to be patronising in any way. It’s unclear how you felt this to be the case? I could be argued that any musician puts their chosen instrument through its paces.


Thank you again for contacting us, we value your feedback about ‘3 Live in Concert - James Lancelot - organ of Durham Cathedral’. All complaints are sent to senior management and programme makers every morning and I included your points in this overnight report. These reports are among the most widely read sources of feedback in the BBC and ensures that your complaint has been seen by the right people quickly. This helps inform their decisions about current and future programmes.


Kind regards


Patrick Clyde

BBC Complaints



Of course, it doesn't in any way answer the point that I raised. I am also disappointed, but not surprised, to note that the reply is littered with enough grammatical and other errors for a month's discussion in Pedants' Paradise.

Ah well. Onwards and upwards!

[Sir Velo]

Well, I think you've been given carte blanche to reply, and I hope you will take up the gauntlet. Might be worth stressing that the objection to the expression "putting it through its paces" is that it has degenerated into a meaningless cliché, and one which is not applied to any other musical instrument. Moreover, it clearly implies that the organ is no more than a mechanical vehicle for the exercise of feats of prestidigitation rather than the expression of musical thought.

[mangerton]

Well, I think you've been given carte blanche to reply, and I hope you will take up the gauntlet. Might be worth stressing that the objection to the expression "putting it through its paces" is that it has degenerated into a meaningless cliché, and one which is not applied to any other musical instrument. Moreover, it clearly implies that the organ is no more than a mechanical vehicle for the exercise of feats of prestidigitation rather than the expression of musical thought.

That's very well put. if I may say so. May I please borrow it?

[Sir Velo]

That's very well put. if I may say so. May I please borrow it?

Be my guest!

[mangerton]

Be my guest!

Thank you! Reply sent. We shall await developments.